BALTIMORE (AP) – Adam Jones broke a tie with a three-run double in the eighth inning, and the Baltimore Orioles overcame another home run by Manny Ramirez to beat the Boston Red Sox 6-3 on Monday night and avoided a four-game sweep.

Baltimore blew a 2-0 lead, then rallied with a four-run eighth against Hideki Okajima (1-1), who came in with an 0.72 ERA. After a sacrifice fly by Kevin Millar tied it, the Orioles loaded the bases with two outs for Jones, who worked the count to 3-1 before hitting a liner off the left-field wall.

Jones is 3-for-5 with three doubles and nine RBIs with the bases loaded this season.

Ramirez homered in a third consecutive game to reach 502 for his career, two behind Eddie Murray for 23rd place in baseball history. The sixth-inning solo shot, on an 0-2 pitch from Jeremy Guthrie, extended Ramirez’s hitting streak to eight games and got Boston within 2-1.

The last time Ramirez homered in three straight games was May 22-24, 2006. He also played a key role in helping Boston take the lead in the eighth, hitting a single off Jim Johnson (1-2) to put the go-ahead run in scoring position for Mike Lowell, who delivered an RBI single for a 3-2 lead.

But Ramirez flied out to right with two on in the ninth inning to end the game.

Ramirez was the designated hitter in place of David Ortiz, who missed a second straight game while in Boston to have an MRI on his sprained left wrist. The results of the MRI were not immediately available.

Johnson got an inning-ending double play in the eighth to earn his first major league win, and George Sherrill got three outs for his 18th save.

Tim Wakefield allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings for the Red Sox, who were denied their first four-game sweep of the Orioles since Sept. 20-23, 2002.

Guthrie gave up two runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings. His lone walk, to Alex Cora, turned into the tying run when Kevin Cash followed with an RBI double to end Guthrie’s outing at 120 pitches.

Guthrie is 0-3 with a 2.33 ERA in his last four starts.

Orioles manager Dave Trembley was ejected by home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez in the third inning for protesting ball and strike calls. Before leaving, Trembley took a stab at illustrating Marquez’s strike zone, running his finger along the inside stripe of each batter’s box.

After Boston stranded two runners in the fourth, Baltimore went up 2-0 in the bottom half when Aubrey Huff hit an RBI double and scored on a single by Millar.

Notes: Boston’s Coco Crisp singled in the fourth inning to snap an 0-for-23 skid. … The Red Sox will recall RHP Justin Masterson from Triple-A Pawtucket to start against Tampa Bay on Tuesday. … Cash, who usually catches knuckleballer Wakefield, leads the majors with eight passed balls – more than any other team. … Boston manager Terry Francona returned after missing Sunday’s game to attend the graduation of his daughter. Baltimore first base coach John Shelby missed Monday’s game to be at his son’s high school graduation. … Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia received the night off, even though he is 5-for-9 lifetime against Guthrie.

AP-ES-06-02-08 2214EDT